The Traianos Gagos Fund for Papyrology

Dear All,

This is a message from the members of one of the last classes that Traianos had the chance to teach, the Summer Institute of the American Society of Papyrologists, July 2009.

Many words have been spent on Traianos, not only on the scholar, but most of all on the man. We do not believe it necessary to say more on this: the tribute of love and esteem that has been paid to him, from all corners of the world, says enough about what he meant to us all, and we will keep within ourselves many great memories of him, not only in Room 807 of the Hatcher Graduate Library, the Papyrology Room, but chatting on the quads of UMich, having a pint at Ashley's pub, or being a Michelangelo of the barbecue at his place.

As a leading papyrologist, he loved research. But his first love was teaching, and no matter how much time this took away from his own studies, he treated his students with respect and love, and considered them to be as his own children – this is something we all have experienced.
No matter how many papyri or text editions are out there, Traianos knew that they are all useless and silent papers, if no young people are introduced to their knowledge and love.

He was a man of action, and we learnt from him that actions are what truly matters, since they can make change.
As we had the privilege to be students of Traianos, we feel the responsibility to urge you to donate, now and in the future, to the Traianos Gagos Fund for Papyrology, which has been established to assist and promote study and research in Papyrology by students at all levels. If you know of anybody who would be willing to contribute any sum, please do circulate this email. Below, you will find the original message concerning it, with instructions on how to make a gift.

We had the luck and honour of studying with Traianos, something of which hundreds of students will be deprived in future years. But, through this endowment, Traianos will still be able to help and be a mentor to his students to come. Whatever the sum, all gifts will contribute to keep Traianos' dream alive in those students of his whom he did not have the chance to meet.

Thank you very much.

Yours,
The grad students of the ASP-SIP 2009,

Richard Burchfield – Macquarie University, Sydney
Kevin Funderburk – University of Pennsylvania
Nicole M. High – University of Michigan
Thomas P. Landvatter – University of Michigan
Isabelle Marthot – Université Paris Sorbonne
Ryan McConnell – University of Illinois, Urbana
Monika Minehart – University of Chicago
Luigi Prada – University of Oxford, The Queen's College
Panayota Vlachaki – University of Crete

In lieu of flowers, an endowment has been established in the memory of Traianos Gagos for the purpose of assisting and promoting study and research in Papyrology by students at all levels.

THE TRAIANOS GAGOS FUND FOR PAPYROLOGY

If you wish to make a gift to this fund, the following link will direct you to the college's giving site where you can be assured your gift will be added to this endowment. Click-on "give student support," then check the box "my gift is in honor/memory of someone." Add Traianos Gagos there. Thank you for helping to continue the work to which he was so dedicated.

http://lsa.umich.edu/alumni/giveonline